Alternative means of providing banking and like services in regional Australia
Media Releases

Media release, 10 - 11 August 1998

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO SEEK REGIONAL VIEWS ON BUSH BANKING IN NT AND NORTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The House of Representatives Financial Institutions Committee will be conducting public hearings in Darwin and a number of regional centres in the north west of Western Australia as part of its wide-ranging inquiry into alternative banking for regional Australia.

Mr David Hawker MP, Chairman of the Committee, said, "The Committee is looking forward to canvassing the views of people in Darwin and the north west of Western Australia. It is very important to the Committee that we hear from people in the bush. This issue effects all Australians living in regional and remote areas. The Committee has received 129 submissions which demonstrates the importance of this inquiry to those living in regional and remote areas."

"The Committee is interested in visiting as many regional areas as possible in order to get a complete picture of the situation. We have already had successful visits to regional Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and regional New South Wales."

"Many communities in the Northern Territory and in remote Western Australia do not have direct access to financial services. The Committee is most interested in investigating ways to enable these people, and those in a similar position in other areas of the country, to access financial services."

The inquiry will take the Committee to Darwin, Wyndham, Fitzroy Crossing and Broome over two days from the 10 - 11 August. The Committee will hold public hearings and meetings with industry and community groups, including the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory, the Traditional Credit Union, the Northern Territory Government, the Kimberley Development Commission and a number of regional shire councils.

Mr Hawker added, "The Committee has so far been very successful in raising the profile of this important issue. Recent commitments from the Australian Banker's Association, and the ANZ and Westpac banks indicate that the banks are now aware of just how important financial services are to regional and remote Australia. We are committed to finding the best possible solutions for people in rural and remote areas. Visiting regional areas allows the Committee to explore as many alternatives as possible."

Release ends
10 August 1998
Further information: David Hawker MP (Chairman) 02 - 6277 4837
Janet Connaughton (Inquiry Secretary) 02 - 6277 2375
e-mail: EFPA.Reps@aph.gov.au

PUBLIC HEARINGS PROGRAM - NORTHERN TERRITORY AND WESTERN AUSTRALIA 10 - 11 AUGUST 1998

Monday, 10 August 1998

DARWIN

Venue

Litchfield Room
Parliament House
Mitchell Street
DARWIN NT 0801

9.00 - 9.45am Traditional Credit Union
9.45 - 10.30am Local Government Association of the Northern Territory
10.30 - 11.00 am Northern Territory Government
11.00 - 11.30 am Outback Digital Network

WYNDHAM

Venue

Shire of East Kimberley Offices
Wyndham
1.45 - 4.00 pm Meeting with Shire of East Kimberley/Wyndham. Meeting with general public.

Tuesday, 11 August 1998

Fitzroy Crossing

Venue

Fitzroy Crossing Library, Flynn Drive, Fitzroy Crossing

10.30 - 12.30 nn Round table discussion with representatives from the Shire of Derby/West Kimberley and Shire of Halls Creek.

ONE ARM POINT

3.15 - 5.15 pm At One Arm Point
Tour of the community including community store.
Presentation by Quentin Bruce and Stephen Alexander on a Smartcard pilot project.
Round Table discussion with representatives from the Bardi Community and other Communities on the Dampier Peninsula.

Secretariat contact details:

The Secretary
Standing Committee on Financial Institutions and Public Administration
R1.121
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 4587
Facsimile: (02) 6277 4557
Mobile: 0418 434 971
EMail: FIPA.Reps@aph.gov.

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